Features Archive

Energy Efficiency and Conservation at HUD: New Opportunities for State Partnerships

Presentation given by John H. Miller, II, PE of the Office of Public and Indian Housing at the HUD Workshop with The National Association of Housing and Redevelopment Officials (NAHRO) held on March 23, 2005. View the Presentation. (Download PowerPoint Viewer)

HUD Rehabilitation Energy Guidelines

One easy-to-use source for finding cost-effective ways to remodel an
existing building is HUD's Energy Efficient Rehab Advisor. The Rehab Advisor's energy efficiency recommendations are based on ENERGY STAR® specifications,
where applicable.

Tips: Energy Audits

Before spending money on materials and equipment, it is important to identify the energy-efficiency
strategies that are most cost effective in a specific situation. An energy audit is a good way to gather
this information.

What to Look for in an Energy Audit
To get the best results, you want your energy audit to be comprehensive. Some auditors only examine
lighting and water conservation measures. A proper audit will look at everything that can effect energy
and water use.

Based on that survey, develop a list of potential energy conservation measures (ECMs).

Analyze each measure or group of ECMs for cost-effectiveness and develop a final itemized and
prioritized list of recommended measures based on their cost, payback, and safety.

Chapter 7 of the workbook discusses most ECMs and provides worksheets to develop costs and benefits
for each measure. Most auditors will have their own computerized cost/benefit/ranking software, but you
can spot check an auditor's calculations by using these worksheets.

HUD has developed an Energy Action Plan to improve energy efficiency and energy conservation in
HUD-assisted rental housing. The goal is to reduce public housing energy bills by as much as $200 million
a year while maintaining comfort and safety. PIH has developed five Management Plan goals for FY 2005 to
support the Energy Action Plan. Read the five Management Plan goals.

To ensure compliance, field offices may contact PHAs as necessary to discuss and investigate these goal
accomplishments and audits, energy performance contracts, and utility allowance reviews.

Replacing
Appliances? Find Out Which Models Use Less Energy

Today's
appliances use considerably less energy than their predecessors.
It might make sense to replace outdated appliances in your properties
with Energy-Star rated models, which could save enough energy to
pay for themselves in a short time. The American Council for an
Energy-Efficiency Economy's Top-Rated
Energy-Efficient Appliances webpage identifies the best energy
performers in a number of appliance categories. For a more extensive
list, see ACEEE's Consumer
Guide to Home Energy Savings.

Choices,
ChoicesShould You Repair or Replace Your Windows?

Old,
inefficient windows can cost your housing authority a bundle in
energy costs. But does it always make sense to replace old windows?
Not necessarily, according to a recent article in FacilitiesNet.
Replacing windows is neither simple nor inexpensive, so it pays
to do a complete assessment of your properties to decide whether
replacement or repair is a better option for you. Check out the
complete article at http://www.facilitiesnet.com/bom/Jan04/Jan04envelope.shtml
to learn more about todays window options, how to assess the
condition of your windows, and factors to help you decide whether
to repair or replace them. The article even includes an evaluation
worksheet to help you evaluate the condition of your windows!

Cool!
Researchers Testing Innovative Air Conditioning Technology

Davis
Energy Group recently developed a new cooling technique and the group's
researchers are now testing it in California homes. Called Night Breeze,
the technology works by bringing cooler nighttime air inside to cool
concrete floors, walls, and other thermal masses. The system is integrated
into the homes heating and air-conditioning systems, allowing
ventilation air to be delivered to all occupied spaces and keeping
installation costs down. Previous monitoring and simulations have
demonstrated energy savings exceeding 70 percent in some California
climates.

Lessons
Learned Result in New Affordable, Energy-Efficient Housing Project

Developers
of a new housing project in Carbondale, Colorado, are relying on energy
efficiency to make the homes affordable for residents. The Consortium
for Advanced Residential Buildings (CARB) and Steven Winter Design
made energy recommendations for the project based on lessons learned
through other Building
America projects. The 52-unit modular home development--which
includes both single- and multifamily units--will boast many energy-efficiency
features and keep energy bills low for residents over the long term.
A model home for the development is now complete. Building America
is a project of the U.S. Department of Energy.

In December 2003, the
American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE)
published Responding to the Natural Gas Crisis: America's Best
Natural Gas Energy Efficiency Programs, which profiles more
than 30 examples of outstanding natural gas energy efficiency programs
across the country. The report includes examples of practical, successful
natural gas energy efficiency programs that can help housing authorities
and other sectors cope with natural gas prices that have nearly
doubled over the past two years.

Natural
gas prices are predicted to increase a whopping 36 percent on average
for U.S. consumers. These rising costs affect all sectors, but the
low-income are particularly hard hit. However, energy efficiency
and renewable energy systems hold promise to reduce these costs,
according to a new study by the American Council for an Energy-Efficient
Economy (ACEEE) and Energy and Environmental Analysis, Inc. According
to the study, aggressive programs to encourage energy efficiency
and renewable energy could reduce the demand for natural gas enough
to cause a 10 to 20 percent drop in wholesale natural gas prices.
The report concludes that savings to consumers and businesses over
the next five years could exceed $75 billion.

On August 6, 2003, DOE
released its 25-year Strategic Plan that spells out a general
vision as well as specific technologies and projects it hopes to
develop in the next 25 years. The plan is committed to clean coal
and nuclear, but also supports renewable energy and energy efficiency,
with the underlying principle that a diversity of energy sources
can help provide stability and guard against price spikes.